Deadly protests in Iraq have exposed a rift within the country's Shiite political factions benefiting hardliners ready to embrace authoritarianism, experts say. 

U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressed his "deep concern" at the spiraling violence in Syria a day after Turkey launched an offensive in Kurdish-controlled areas.

Amnesty International on Thursday accused Egyptian authorities of torturing detained activist Alaa Abdel Fattah, denouncing what it described as the use of "extreme brutality" to crush dissent.

The five European members of the U.N. Security Council called Thursday for Turkey to halt its offensive against Syrian Kurdish forces.

Tunisian presidential hopeful Nabil Karoui said Thursday he will "wage battle and win" a weekend runoff against a political newcomer, a day after the business tycoon was released from jail.

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators said Wednesday they have agreed on far-reaching sanctions to be slapped on NATO ally Turkey if its forces do not withdraw from neighboring Syria.

Syria's Kurds battled to hold off a Turkish invasion on Thursday as thousands of civilians fled air strikes and shelling that deepened fears of a humanitarian crisis.

Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio on Thursday summoned the Turkish ambassador over Ankara's ongoing offensive in northern Syria, a statement said.

Iraq began three days of national mourning Thursday for more than 100 people killed during recent protests, while the government was expected to present a reshuffle to parliament in response to the political crisis.

War-ravaged Yemen is on course to become the world's poorest country if the conflict persists, the United Nations said in a report.